The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has said it will activate its online portal to begin registration of qualified persons for recruitment into the service.
The decision to automate the recruitment process was anchored on the relative success of the ongoing police recruitment.
[contextly_sidebar id=”L6phzTVVH2W6DRyCu4N9VSrYN7HoR80R”]According to the Deputy Public Relations Officer of the Service, Prince Billy Anaglatey, the switch to the online system would help make the process more transparent, and discourage payment of bribes and the use of ‘middlemen’ who defraud potential recruits.
“The Interior Ministry has decided that all those agencies under the ministry should apply the online registration. I believe with the online registration where automatically you don’t have the requirements, the computer will drop you. I believe the computer will not take bribes because it has been programmed to pick specific requirements,” he said.
“So anybody that will also be promised a spot when they don’t have the requirements or if they do and they think that someone will process your documents for you. It’s enough to deter people that might want to use this opportunity to take money from people or extort money from people in the name of recruitment.”
Prince Billy Anaglatey also questioned the motives of people who apply for recruitment in the fire service, stating that applicants have to have passion for the job and not just see it as any other profession.
“I keep saying the fire service should be a work of calling. You shouldn’t say you need a job to do so you rush to the fire service,” he added.
3,000 people to be recruited
The Interior Ministry announced that about 3,000 people are set to be recruited by Ghana’s security agencies this year.
According to the deputy minister, James Agalga, the transparency of the recruitment process has improved significantly with the introduction of the online system.
“Not too long ago, the police administration advertised in order to ensure that criminals don’t take advantage of the recruitment exercise. Qualified applicants must go on the internet and apply online,” Agalga said.
“You don’t need middlemen to apply and if someone comes to you and demands cash in order to aid you go through the process, immediately you should know the person is a criminal and wants to defraud you. The process is very transparent. You don’t need anybody’s intervention. If you are eligible you will be selected.”
By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana